Kotor, Poster Child of Montenegro

Unsatisfied with Ulcinj, we sought a Montenegro coastal town worthy of the praise we had heard. Kotor was it. A small tourist town set at the end of an elongated fjord-like bay, Kotor was dwarfed by cliffs and mountain ranges. The cold green water saw cruise ships daily, and international tourists flooded its immaculately reconstructed Old Town to get lost in its labyrinthine cobble stone lanes. A photographer's dream, the Old Town was also the site of fine food, coffee, and souvenirs. Just beyond the city walls, one could take a boat trip, swim, ride a bike, or simply sit at the water's edge to take in the landscape. We decided to hike.

We climbed up to the mountain ridge across the bay, each switchback providing a more inspiring view of Kotor and its surroundings. At the top, we found abandoned buildings from the old Yugoslavia days, including the eerie Fort Vrmac. Its dark concrete chambers were strewn with rubble, and rusting iron fittings jutted from the walls. The other side of the ridge was another gorgeous view of the neighbouring bayside town. We followed up the hike with a refreshing dip in the bay and a couple of freshly baked borek (meat pastries). As dusk fell, we watched tiny bats skimming the water for insects, and then joined the throng in one of the Old Town squares. A string quartet played covers of pop and rock songs, and people applauded at the end of each tune, at the same time, cheering the World Cup match.